Gaston Eyskens
Encyclopedia
Gaston François Marie, Viscount Eyskens (1 April 1905 - 3 January 1988) was a Belgian
economist, Christian Democratic politician of the CVP-PSC
, and statesman.
He was a six-time Prime Minister of Belgium from 1949 to 1950, 1958 to 1961 and 1968 to 1973. Eyskens was confronted with major ideological and linguistic conflicts (the controversy over king Leopold III
in 1950, the "School War" in 1958, the split of the University of Leuven
in 1970). He oversaw the first steps towards the regionalization of Belgium (constitutional reform of 1970).
, the son of Antonius Franciscus Eyskens (1875–1948) and Maria Voeten (1872–1960), he married in 1931 Gilberte Depetter (1902–1981), with whom he had two sons Erik Eyskens (Leuven 20 July 1935 - Antwerpen 31 August 2008) and Mark Eyskens
. His son Mark was Prime Minister from 6 April 1981 to 17 December 1981.
degree. In 1927 he became Master of Science
at Columbia University
. In 1931 Eyskens became a professor at the University of Leuven. He later became dean
of the economics faculty. He also served on the board of the University of Lovanium
.
Eyskens was made doctor honoris causa by Columbia University, the University of Cologne
and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem
.
Eyskens became a member of the Belgian Chamber of Representatives. He was steadily reelected (1946
, 1949
, 1950
, 1954
, 1958
and 1961
) and served until 1965.
In 1945 and between 1947 and 1949 he was Minister of Finance. On 11 August 1949 he became Prime Minister of Belgium in a coalition (Eyskens I) between Christian-democrats and liberals. His cabinet fell in June 1950 over the constitutional crisis caused by King Leopold III
’s actions during the Second World War. In the short lived government of Jean Duvieusart
(June–August 1950) Eyskens was Minister of Economical Affairs.
Between 26 June 1958 and 6 November 1958, Eyskens lead a minority government which was the last government of Belgium (Eyskens II) which wasn’t a coalition government. On November 6, Eyskens formed a coalition government with the liberals (Eyskens III) which remained in power until 3 September 1960. On 3 September 1960 he formed his third government (Eyskens IV), again a coalition with the liberal party. This government fell on 25 April 1961 over the Unitary Law (which raised the fiscal pressure with 7 billion Belgian francs, cut spending in education and the military, reformed the unemployment dole and government pensions) and had caused massive strikes. During these years he also had to handle the School War and the independence of the Belgian Congo
.
In the general election of 1965
Eyskens was elected to the Belgian Senate
(reelected in 1968
and 1971
). In the government led by Pierre Harmel
(1965–1966) he again served as Minister of Finance. Student unrest and questions of discrimination against ethnic Flemish brought down the Belgian government in February 1968. On 17 June 1968 Gaston Eyskens formed his fifth government (Eyskens V). This time a coalition between the Christian-democrats and the socialists. On 20 January 1973 he formed his sixth and last government (Eyskens VI) again a coalition with the socialists.
His last two governments were plagued with linguistic troubles regarding the split of the old bilingual Catholic University of Leuven
in a Dutch language university (the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
), which stayed in Leuven and a French language university which moved to Louvain-la-Neuve
and became the Université catholique de Louvain
and the start of the process of changing Belgium from a unitary state into a federation with the creation of the Communities. Upon the fall of his last government Gaston Eyskens retired from politics. He died in Leuven
.
. On September 1973, Eyskens was ennobled as an hereditary viscount in the Belgian nobility
.
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Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
economist, Christian Democratic politician of the CVP-PSC
Christian Social Party (Belgium, defunct)
The Christian Social Party was a Belgian Catholic political party, which existed from 1945 until 1968.-History:At the end of World War II, on 18–19 August 1945 the Christelijke Volkspartij-Parti Social Chrétien was founded under the presidency of August de Schryver as the successor to the...
, and statesman.
He was a six-time Prime Minister of Belgium from 1949 to 1950, 1958 to 1961 and 1968 to 1973. Eyskens was confronted with major ideological and linguistic conflicts (the controversy over king Leopold III
Leopold III of Belgium
Leopold III reigned as King of the Belgians from 1934 until 1951, when he abdicated in favour of the Heir Apparent,...
in 1950, the "School War" in 1958, the split of the University of Leuven
Catholic University of Leuven
The Catholic University of Leuven, or of Louvain, was the largest, oldest and most prominent university in Belgium. The university was founded in 1425 as the University of Leuven by John IV, Duke of Brabant and approved by a Papal bull by Pope Martin V.During France's occupation of Belgium in the...
in 1970). He oversaw the first steps towards the regionalization of Belgium (constitutional reform of 1970).
Family
Eyskens was born in LierLier, Belgium
Lier is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Antwerp. The municipality comprises the city of Lier proper and the village of Koningshooikt. On January 1, 2010 Lier had a total population of 33,930. The total area is 49.70 km² which gives a population density of 669 inhabitants per...
, the son of Antonius Franciscus Eyskens (1875–1948) and Maria Voeten (1872–1960), he married in 1931 Gilberte Depetter (1902–1981), with whom he had two sons Erik Eyskens (Leuven 20 July 1935 - Antwerpen 31 August 2008) and Mark Eyskens
Mark Eyskens
Marc Maria Frans, Viscount Eyskens , known as Mark Eyskens , is a Belgian economist and politician in the Christian People's Party , now called Christian Democratic and Flemish, and briefly served as Prime Minister of Belgium in 1981.-Background:He was born in Leuven, the son of Gaston Eyskens, and...
. His son Mark was Prime Minister from 6 April 1981 to 17 December 1981.
Academical career
Gaston Eyskens studied at the University of Leuven where he gained a master and doctorateDoctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
degree. In 1927 he became Master of Science
Master of Science
A Master of Science is a postgraduate academic master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is typically studied for in the sciences including the social sciences.-Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay:...
at Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
. In 1931 Eyskens became a professor at the University of Leuven. He later became dean
Dean (education)
In academic administration, a dean is a person with significant authority over a specific academic unit, or over a specific area of concern, or both...
of the economics faculty. He also served on the board of the University of Lovanium
University of Lovanium
The University of Lovanium was a Catholic Jesuit university in Leopoldville/Leopoldstad in Belgian Congo.-History:The university was established in 1954 at Kimwenza.Its name was derived from the old name, Lovanium, for Leuven in Belgium...
.
Eyskens was made doctor honoris causa by Columbia University, the University of Cologne
University of Cologne
The University of Cologne is one of the oldest universities in Europe and, with over 44,000 students, one of the largest universities in Germany. The university is part of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, an association of Germany's leading research universities...
and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Hebrew University of Jerusalem
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem ; ; abbreviated HUJI) is Israel's second-oldest university, after the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology. The Hebrew University has three campuses in Jerusalem and one in Rehovot. The world's largest Jewish studies library is located on its Edmond J...
.
Political career
During the early 1930s Eyskens was chief of staff of CVP ministers Edmond Rubbens and Philip Van Isacker. In 1939Belgian general election, 1939
General elections were held in Belgium on 2 April 1939. The result was a victory for the Catholic Party, which won 73 of the 202 seats in the Chamber of Representatives. Voter turnout was 93.3%.-Chamber of Deputies:-Senate:...
Eyskens became a member of the Belgian Chamber of Representatives. He was steadily reelected (1946
Belgian general election, 1946
General elections were held in Belgium on 17 February 1946. The result was a victory for the Christian Social Party, which won 92 of the 202 seats in the Chamber of Representatives and 51 of the 101 seats in the Senate. Voter turnout was 90.3%....
, 1949
Belgian general election, 1949
General elections were held in Belgium on 26 June 1949. The result was a victory for the Christian Social Party, which won 105 of the 212 seats in the Chamber of Representatives and 54 of the 106 seats in the Senate. Voter turnout was 94.4%....
, 1950
Belgian general election, 1950
General elections were held in Belgium on 4 June 1950. The result was a victory for the Christian Social Party, which won 108 of the 212 seats in the Chamber of Representatives and 54 of the 104 seats in the Senate. Voter turnout was 92.6%....
, 1954
Belgian general election, 1954
General elections were held in Belgium on 11 April 1954. The result was a victory for the Christian Social Party, which won 95 of the 212 seats in the Chamber of Representatives and 49 of the 106 seats in the Senate. Voter turnout was 93.2%....
, 1958
Belgian general election, 1958
General elections were held in Belgium on 1 June 1958. The result was a victory for the Christian Social Party, which won 104 of the 212 seats in the Chamber of Representatives and 53 of the 106 seats in the Senate. Voter turnout was 93.6% in the Chamber election and 93.7% in the Senate...
and 1961
Belgian general election, 1961
General elections were held in Belgium on 26 March 1961. The result was a victory for the Christian Social Party, which won 96 of the 212 seats in the Chamber of Representatives and 47 of the 106 seats in the Senate. Voter turnout was 92.3%....
) and served until 1965.
In 1945 and between 1947 and 1949 he was Minister of Finance. On 11 August 1949 he became Prime Minister of Belgium in a coalition (Eyskens I) between Christian-democrats and liberals. His cabinet fell in June 1950 over the constitutional crisis caused by King Leopold III
Leopold III of Belgium
Leopold III reigned as King of the Belgians from 1934 until 1951, when he abdicated in favour of the Heir Apparent,...
’s actions during the Second World War. In the short lived government of Jean Duvieusart
Jean Duvieusart
Jean Pierre Duvieusart was a Belgian Catholic politician of the PSC-CVP and minister of economy . After two months as the 36th Prime Minister of Belgium , he resigned after the abdication of King Leopold III...
(June–August 1950) Eyskens was Minister of Economical Affairs.
Between 26 June 1958 and 6 November 1958, Eyskens lead a minority government which was the last government of Belgium (Eyskens II) which wasn’t a coalition government. On November 6, Eyskens formed a coalition government with the liberals (Eyskens III) which remained in power until 3 September 1960. On 3 September 1960 he formed his third government (Eyskens IV), again a coalition with the liberal party. This government fell on 25 April 1961 over the Unitary Law (which raised the fiscal pressure with 7 billion Belgian francs, cut spending in education and the military, reformed the unemployment dole and government pensions) and had caused massive strikes. During these years he also had to handle the School War and the independence of the Belgian Congo
Belgian Congo
The Belgian Congo was the formal title of present-day Democratic Republic of the Congo between King Leopold II's formal relinquishment of his personal control over the state to Belgium on 15 November 1908, and Congolese independence on 30 June 1960.-Congo Free State, 1884–1908:Until the latter...
.
In the general election of 1965
Belgian general election, 1965
General elections were held in Belgium on 23 May 1965. The result was a victory for the Christian Social Party, which won 77 of the 212 seats in the Chamber of Representatives and 44 of the 106 seats in the Senate. Voter turnout was 91.6%....
Eyskens was elected to the Belgian Senate
Belgian Senate
The Belgian Senate is one of the two chambers of the bicameral Federal Parliament of Belgium, the other being the Chamber of Representatives. It is considered to be the "upper house" of the Federal Parliament.-History and future:...
(reelected in 1968
Belgian general election, 1968
General elections were held in Belgium on 31 March 1968. Although the Belgian Socialist Party received the most votes in the Chamber of Representatives elections, the Christian Social Party won the most seats. The Christian Social Party also emerged as the largest party in the Senate. Voter turnout...
and 1971
Belgian general election, 1971
General elections were held in Belgium on 7 November 1971. The result was a victory for the Christian People's Party, which won 40 of the 212 seats in the Chamber of Representatives and 34 of the 106 seats in the Senate. Voter turnout was 91.5%....
). In the government led by Pierre Harmel
Pierre Harmel
Pierre Charles José Marie Harmel, from 1991 Count Harmel was a Belgian lawyer, Christian Democratic politician and diplomat...
(1965–1966) he again served as Minister of Finance. Student unrest and questions of discrimination against ethnic Flemish brought down the Belgian government in February 1968. On 17 June 1968 Gaston Eyskens formed his fifth government (Eyskens V). This time a coalition between the Christian-democrats and the socialists. On 20 January 1973 he formed his sixth and last government (Eyskens VI) again a coalition with the socialists.
His last two governments were plagued with linguistic troubles regarding the split of the old bilingual Catholic University of Leuven
Catholic University of Leuven
The Catholic University of Leuven, or of Louvain, was the largest, oldest and most prominent university in Belgium. The university was founded in 1425 as the University of Leuven by John IV, Duke of Brabant and approved by a Papal bull by Pope Martin V.During France's occupation of Belgium in the...
in a Dutch language university (the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
The Katholieke Universiteit Leuven is a Dutch-speaking university in Flanders, Belgium.It is located at the centre of the historic town of Leuven, and is a prominent part of the city, home to the university since 1425...
), which stayed in Leuven and a French language university which moved to Louvain-la-Neuve
Ottignies-Louvain-la-Neuve
Ottignies-Louvain-la-Neuve is a Walloon municipality located in the Belgian province of Walloon Brabant. On January 1, 2006 Ottignies-Louvain-la-Neuve had a total population of 29,521. The total area is 32.96 km² which gives a population density of 896 inhabitants per km².The two main towns in the...
and became the Université catholique de Louvain
Université catholique de Louvain
The Université catholique de Louvain, sometimes known, especially in Belgium, as UCL, is Belgium's largest French-speaking university. It is located in Louvain-la-Neuve and in Brussels...
and the start of the process of changing Belgium from a unitary state into a federation with the creation of the Communities. Upon the fall of his last government Gaston Eyskens retired from politics. He died in Leuven
Leuven
Leuven is the capital of the province of Flemish Brabant in the Flemish Region, Belgium...
.
Honours
On 5 April 1963 Gaston Eyskens was made a Minister of StateMinister of State (Belgium)
The Minister of State is an honorary title in Belgium. It is formally granted by the Belgian monarch, but on the initiative of the Belgian federal government. It is given on a personal basis, for life rather than for a specified period. The title is granted for exceptional merits, generally to...
. On September 1973, Eyskens was ennobled as an hereditary viscount in the Belgian nobility
Belgian nobility
In the Kingdom of Belgium there are at the moment approximately 1,300 noble families. Some 20,000 individuals are titled. The noble lineage of only ca. 400 families dates back to the 17th century. As Belgium is a democratic constitutional monarchy there are no legal privileges attached to bearing a...
.
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